* Somalia trying to make Aug. 20 deadline for new govt
* Regional forces helping to fight Islamist militants
By Andrew Quinn
NAIROBI, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Somalia's political leaders are making
encouraging progress toward meeting an Aug. 20 deadline to lay the
groundwork for a new constitutional government, U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton said on Saturday.
Clinton met Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, president of Somalia's Transitional
Federal Government, and other Somali leaders in Nairobi, during a
seven-nation African tour.
Somalia has been mired in civil strife, grinding poverty, Islamist militancy
and maritime piracy since warlords toppled military dictator Mohamed Siad
Barre in 1991, leaving the nation without an effective central government.
An African Union force trying to defeat al Shabaab, an al Qaeda linked
Islamist insurgent group that seized control of much of central and southern
Somalia, has had some success and driven al Shabaab out of the capital
Mogadishu.
But the rebels remain the strongest of an array of militias which have a
history of wrecking political settlements and perpetuating war, instability
and famine.
"We are very encouraged by the progress the leaders have been making to meet
all the requirements of the road map by the Aug 20 deadline," Clinton told
reporters.
A U.S.-backed plan calls for Somalia to establish a legitimate government
accepted by the country's fractious clans, and a new parliament and
constituent assembly to replace institutions plagued by corruption and
infighting.
The National Constituent Assembly, sitting in Mogadishu for the last week,
approved a provisional constitution to replace an 8-year-old Transitional
Federal Charter and lead to the end of the transition process on Aug. 20.
The draft constitution is expected to be put to a nationwide referendum as
soon as the security situation improves.
Clinton said she would discuss the remaining tasks ahead, as well as the
international support required to strengthen constitutional rule in Somalia.
Her Africa tour is also part of a U.S. push to broaden security partnerships
with countries like Uganda and Kenya, which are playing leading roles in
helping to stabilise Somalia.
The AU peacekeeping force in Somalia hopes to drive the militants out of the
country's central and southern regions this month, when the U.N.-backed
government's mandate expires. (Reporting By Andrew Quinn; Editing by James
Macharia and Tim Pearce)
C Thomson Reuters 2012 All rights reserved
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Received on Sat Aug 04 2012 - 18:12:32 EDT
